MANCHESTER Airport is preparing for huge expansion with
the launch of a British Airways base and the introduction of
low-cost carrier Jet2.
BA franchise airline GB Airways will open its second UK base and
launch five routes out of the airport from May, while Jet2 will
launch nine services from December 1.
The flights are in addition to BMI’s long-haul services to
the Caribbean and Las Vegas which start in November, and signal a
return to form for Manchester after services were cut following
September 11 2001 and SARS.
Jet2 will challenge Bmibaby as Manchester’s largest budget
carrier. Its nine routes – Budapest, Murcia, Geneva, Malaga,
Faro, Nice, Valencia, Venice and Pisa – will match the number
offered by Bmibaby, but Jet2 will base six Boeing 737s at the
airport as opposed to its rival’s three.
Jet2 already has a strong northern presence with 14 services
from Leeds Bradford. Commercial director Steve Lee insisted the two
bases could run harmoniously.
“We’ve a solid catchment area in Yorkshire. People from
the northwest don’t like travelling to Yorkshire so we
believe the markets can be kept separate.”
The launch of the nine routes will be staggered between December
1 and May 26, with fares from £21, including taxes.
GB Airways, which has extended its franchise deal with BA until
2010, will initially base one Airbus A320 at Manchester, rising to
three over the following two years.
Destinations include Malaga, Tenerife, Funchal, Paphos and Malta
with flights starting on May 16. The two airlines will create
around 340 new jobs at the airport.
- ABTA hopes to forge closer relationships with low-cost carriers
under plans by new aviation chief Doreen McKenzie. Knock Travel
boss McKenzie has met budget carrier Jet2, which has agreed to
provide window marketing material for agents and a trade
website.